Prime Minister Mark Carney says great powers are using ‘economic integration as weapons’
John Paul Tasker · CBC News · Posted: Jan 20, 2026
Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a frank assessment of how he views the world in a provocative speech in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, where he said the longstanding U.S.-led, rules-based international order is over and middle powers like Canada must pivot to avoid falling prey to further “coercion” from powerful actors.
Without invoking U.S. President Donald Trump by name, Carney referenced “American hegemony” and said “great powers” are using economic integration as “weapons.”
“Canadians know that our old, comfortable assumption that our geography and alliance memberships automatically conferred prosperity and security is no longer valid,” Carney said.
As it grapples with this new dynamic, Carney said Canada must be “principled and pragmatic” and turn inward to build up the country and diversify trading relationships to become less reliant on countries like the U.S., now that it’s clear “integration” can lead to “subordination.”
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Carney said multilateralism and the “architecture of collective problem-solving” — relying on institutions like the World Trade Organization, the United Nations and Conference of the Parties (COP) for climate talks — has been “diminished” and countries have to accept they may have to go it alone more often than in the recent past.
“Many countries are drawing the same conclusions. They must develop greater strategic autonomy: in energy, food, critical minerals, in finance and supply chains.
“A country that cannot feed itself, fuel itself or defend itself has few options. When the rules no longer protect you, you must protect yourself,” Carney said.
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Source: CBC News
Read the full transcript of Carney’s speech to World Economic Forum – National | Globalnews.ca